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4r ,.r• � f <br /> f <br /> USEPA Grant ! /Iovy, <br /> Local Agency Groundwater Protection - Underground Injection Control Program <br /> April 8, 1999 <br /> PHS/EHD has recently received a grant award from USEPA to implement a Local <br /> Agency Groundwater Protection Program through an amendment to the Safe Drinking <br /> Water Act (SDWA). The County Board of Supervisors in Resolution 98-614 officially <br /> recognizes the grant award and program implementation with final approval by U.S. EPA <br /> effective October 1, 1998. As amended the SDWA requires the U.S. EPA to establish a <br /> program providing for the safety of the nation's drinking water. The Underground <br /> Injection Control (LZC) program was established under rhe SDWA to prevent <br /> contamination of underground sources of drinking water from improper use of disposal <br /> wells. <br /> Disposal wells covered by the UIC program include bored, driven or drilled shafts or dug <br /> holes where the principal function of the shaft or hole is the emplacement of fluids. <br /> Examples can include sumps, septic tanks, cesspools. abandoned wells, dry wells, pits, <br /> and drainfields. Our primary focus will include the evaluation of improper uses of these <br /> and similar devices that may endanger underground sources of drinking water. In <br /> some cases where drinking water is endangered, modif cations .o rhe use of these devices, <br /> including closure may be required. T'ne USEPA has provided written guidance for the <br /> evaluation of these devices for our use locally. Attached is the 1992 U.S. EPA -- Region <br /> 9 Guidelines for Closure of Shallow Injection Wells and the 1999 U. S. EPA - Region 9 <br /> Peer Review Request draft for regulators only. If time allows. please read the attached <br /> Guidelines for details. A summary of the EPA Guidelines and EHD's federally approved <br /> workplan follows. <br /> SUMMARY <br /> Consistent with other areas in USEPA Region 9, San Joaquin County is dependent upon <br /> groundwater as the primary source of drinking water. In addition, the hydrogeologic <br /> conditions in the county include vulnerable shallow groundwater overlain by relatively <br /> thin alluvial deposits. In many areas of the county depth to groundwater is less than 15 <br /> feet below grade surface. These conditions provide minimal protection from surface and <br /> subsurface discharges_ Groundwater sources supply greater than 90 percent of the <br /> drinking water for the unincorporated areas of the county. Groundwater sources supply <br /> greater than 60 percent of the drinking water for the incorporated areas of the county. <br /> Agriculture and industry relies heavily on groundwater and surface water sources. <br /> EHD has completed (1998) a preliminary County wide assessment in cooperation with <br /> San Joaquin County Planning Department locating and mapping more than 800 potential <br /> Underground Injection Control (UIC) sites. This review is accomplished through a <br /> matching process using dozens of specific land use codes for each parcel in the County <br /> excluding incorporated cities_ Potential sites are categorized as commercial, industrial, <br />